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Ray B[_2_] 09-07-2008 11:25 PM

Humic Acid
 
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I began
using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before the
time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the various
surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to my
fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being about a
teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus" after all, as I
am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again I'll state - it's
quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!




Diana Kulaga[_5_] 10-07-2008 01:08 AM

Humic Acid
 
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is humic
acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this year, and
I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a spokesperson for the
stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and the flowers are more
numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I began
using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the various
surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to my
fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being about
a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus" after all,
as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again I'll state -
it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!






K Barrett 10-07-2008 03:22 AM

Humic Acid
 
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the real
ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock so
Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its from
broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in there too,
but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes decline in potted
plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting soil - soil I hastens to
add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not orchids - and the plant fails
to thrive. You repot and voila, better blooms growths etc. Less burning
of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae additive
(of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic algae, has a
variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth, etc.) I used to
use it and did see improvement. Of course, as Wellenstein says, you never
know whether the plants are responding to 1) repotting 2) better watering
because you are paying better attention 3) or the stuff you are using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just the
usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic acid,
or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under Humic Acid and
the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is humic
acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this year,
and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a spokesperson for
the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and the flowers are
more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I began
using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!








K Barrett 10-07-2008 03:48 AM

Humic Acid
 
Aren't you a Georgia Tech grad, Ray?

http://www.ihss.gatech.edu/

K

"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the
real ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock
so Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its from
broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in there
too, but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes decline in
potted plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting soil - soil I
hastens to add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not orchids - and
the plant fails to thrive. You repot and voila, better blooms growths
etc. Less burning of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae additive
(of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic algae, has
a variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth, etc.) I used
to use it and did see improvement. Of course, as Wellenstein says, you
never know whether the plants are responding to 1) repotting 2) better
watering because you are paying better attention 3) or the stuff you are
using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just the
usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic acid,
or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under Humic Acid
and the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this
year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!










Ray B[_2_] 10-07-2008 10:29 AM

Humic Acid
 
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is humic
acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this year,
and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a spokesperson for
the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and the flowers are
more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I began
using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!








Ray B[_2_] 10-07-2008 10:31 AM

Humic Acid
 
Nope, you're thinking of tannic acid in brown rivers (and tea)

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the
real ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock
so Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its from
broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in there
too, but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes decline in
potted plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting soil - soil I
hastens to add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not orchids - and
the plant fails to thrive. You repot and voila, better blooms growths
etc. Less burning of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae additive
(of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic algae, has
a variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth, etc.) I used
to use it and did see improvement. Of course, as Wellenstein says, you
never know whether the plants are responding to 1) repotting 2) better
watering because you are paying better attention 3) or the stuff you are
using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just the
usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic acid,
or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under Humic Acid
and the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this
year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!










Ray B[_2_] 10-07-2008 10:53 AM

Humic Acid
 
Let me add that my goal was to improve upon ST, not duplicate it.

Looking at the literature, the synthetic rooting hormone in the formula is
by-far the most active, with the B-1 second, and I cannot speak for the
other "50" ingredients, as they are hidden from the public.

When I was doing my own thing, I used both IBA and NAA (ST only has one
hormone), not only B-1, but about 3 or 4 other vitamins that are known to be
beneficial to plants, humic acid, kelp extracts, and a variety of other
ingredients. Even with all of that purchased at retail, my
"Super-SuperThrive" cost 15% of the price of ST itself.

In case anyone doesn't know, the rooting hormones are "plant growth
regulators", and even though the EPA's own documents state it presents no
hazard to people or the environment, it is regulated by them under FIFRA,
and I'm not about to go to the hassle and immense expense to get EPA
registered and have the product registered, so I dropped it.

Kathy, I am as skeptical as you about such things. I cannot tell you how
often I had to convince new adopters of MSU fertilizer that the key to the
"magic" was the fact that they were now feeding regularly and adequately.
Back when I was doing the SST thing, I got flats of phal seedlings from a
local nursery, and compared about 50 plants each of fertilizer only, fert +
ST, fert + SST. There was no doubt that the seedlings getting additives did
better that those who did not, and non-plant growers independently supported
my observation that the SST group did better than the ST group, but the
difference was not as large.

As far as my current humic acid experiment goes, as unscientific as it is,
it LOOKS like it's having a positive effect, and while I cannot claim there
is a direct cause & effect relationship, I can guarantee that my watering
and feeding regimen hasn't changed, as that's automated. (I normally only
do that while on vacation, but having been in the surgery-a-month club there
for a while, I opted to let it go, which is not an issue in S/H.)

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the
real ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock
so Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its from
broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in there
too, but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes decline in
potted plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting soil - soil I
hastens to add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not orchids - and
the plant fails to thrive. You repot and voila, better blooms growths
etc. Less burning of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae additive
(of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic algae, has
a variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth, etc.) I used
to use it and did see improvement. Of course, as Wellenstein says, you
never know whether the plants are responding to 1) repotting 2) better
watering because you are paying better attention 3) or the stuff you are
using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just the
usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic acid,
or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under Humic Acid
and the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this
year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!










BIO-Dex Consulting 10-07-2008 02:38 PM

Humic Acid
 
The solution is on its way... Motzarella should be a necessity of the past
very soon.

Kye.


"Ray B" wrote in message
...
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this
year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate to
my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up being
about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a "plus"
after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been (again
I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!










[email protected] 10-07-2008 03:22 PM

Humic Acid
 
On Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:29:55 -0400 in Ray B wrote:
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.


Just don't believe it when a post fails, postpone the posting,
refresh metadata, and re-enter the newsgroup.
If you see your article, you know you don't have to repost it :-).


--
Chris Dukes
"Let all the babies be born. Then let us drown those we do not like."
-- G. K. Chesterton.

wendy7 10-07-2008 03:33 PM

Humic Acid - Hiccups!
 
Aha! It happens to the best of us Ray.
I have an idea Ray, why don't you buy a server, set it up for us & away
we go??.

Cheers Wendy

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!




K Barrett 10-07-2008 03:39 PM

Humic Acid
 
Nope, read the links provided.

K

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Nope, you're thinking of tannic acid in brown rivers (and tea)

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the
real ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock
so Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its
from broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in
there too, but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes decline
in potted plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting soil - soil
I hastens to add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not orchids - and
the plant fails to thrive. You repot and voila, better blooms growths
etc. Less burning of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae additive
(of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic algae, has
a variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth, etc.) I
used to use it and did see improvement. Of course, as Wellenstein says,
you never know whether the plants are responding to 1) repotting 2)
better watering because you are paying better attention 3) or the stuff
you are using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just
the usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic
acid, or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under Humic
Acid and the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST this
year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just before
the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to the
various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid concentrate
to my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it (it ends up
being about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it may be a
"plus" after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than I had been
(again I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!












Ray B[_2_] 10-07-2008 10:04 PM

Humic Acid
 
Yeah, I did, and while HA can contribute to the "brownness", tannic acid is
a far stronger pigment. Note that they stated that HA was in brown water,
not was the cause of brown water.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
Nope, read the links provided.

K

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Nope, you're thinking of tannic acid in brown rivers (and tea)

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
IIRC Superthrive is vitamin B-1 with some other plant hormone, but the
real ingredient is the B-1. So, just as B-1 softens transplanting shock
so Superthrive will help wiht repotting shock.

IIRC humic acid is the acid that makes tropical river water dark, its
from broken down plant material. Sure there's some plant hormones in
there too, but in general its acidity is what hold back or causes
decline in potted plants, the salts and acids build up in old potting
soil - soil I hastens to add!! I'm talking about house plants here, not
orchids - and the plant fails to thrive. You repot and voila, better
blooms growths etc. Less burning of those delicate root hairs.

Now what humic acid may or maynot provide to *orchids* is another horse
entirely, IMHO. There have been any number of peopel who like use of a
variety of natural fertilizers. Alan Koch liked using the algae
additive (of course I'm blanking on its name.... some sort of Icelandic
algae, has a variety of plant hormones which increases rooting, growth,
etc.) I used to use it and did see improvement. Of course, as
Wellenstein says, you never know whether the plants are responding to 1)
repotting 2) better watering because you are paying better attention 3)
or the stuff you are using.

So its a double edged sword. Ray, I think what you are seeing is just
the usual increased solubility of inorganic micronutrients that any
acidification/fertilizer would bring to solution. Marschner ( "Mineral
Nutrition of Higher Plants") doesn't have an index listing for Humic
acid, or even humus. There's nothing in the old AOS Bulletin under
Humic Acid and the only 2 possible articles are in regard to CAM.

Here's a link to humic acid and follow the link to Leibig:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid

K Barrett.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Without going out to look at the SuperThrive bottle (lazy girl!), is
humic acid one of the ingredients in that product? I began using ST
this year, and I can't believe the results. They should hire me as a
spokesperson for the stuff. The pbulbs are far stronger and bigger, and
the flowers are more numerous and also larger.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Many moons ago, when I was experimenting with developing my own,
better-but-much-cheaper SuperThrive (abandoned, due to EPA regs), I
began using humic acid as an additive to the formulation.

I am quite certain of its benefit in soils, as it helps release
otherwise-sequestered nutrients, but I questioned its applicability to
orchid-growing.

I know this is quite unscientific, but about 4 months ago - just
before the time I had to start mostly "ignoring" my collection due to
the various surgeries I endured - I added a liquid humic acid
concentrate to my fertilizer feed tank, so have been feeding with it
(it ends up being about a teaspoon per gallon), and it "looks" like it
may be a "plus" after all, as I am seeing more growth and blooms than
I had been (again I'll state - it's quite an unscientific assessment).

Anyone else have any thoughts or experience?

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!














BIO-Dex Consulting 11-07-2008 03:08 AM

Humic Acid - Hiccups!
 
Coz thats what I am doing / did....

Kye.

"Wendy7" wrote in message
...
Aha! It happens to the best of us Ray.
I have an idea Ray, why don't you buy a server, set it up for us & away
we go??.

Cheers Wendy

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!






Ray B[_2_] 11-07-2008 10:34 AM

Humic Acid - Hiccups!
 
Wendy seems to think I'm rolling in dough.

She obviously hasn't seen my daughter's latest tuition bill! We're up to
$50k now, altogether. At least it's her last year.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"BIO-Dex Consulting" wrote in message
...
Coz thats what I am doing / did....

Kye.

"Wendy7" wrote in message
...
Aha! It happens to the best of us Ray.
I have an idea Ray, why don't you buy a server, set it up for us & away
we go??.

Cheers Wendy

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!








wendy7 11-07-2008 04:01 PM

Humic Acid - Hiccups!
 
Kudos to you Ray, at least you are putting your money to good use!
Cheers Wendy (wondering what it costs to run a server?)

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
Wendy seems to think I'm rolling in dough.

She obviously hasn't seen my daughter's latest tuition bill! We're up to
$50k now, altogether. At least it's her last year.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"BIO-Dex Consulting" wrote in message
...
Coz thats what I am doing / did....

Kye.

"Wendy7" wrote in message
...
Aha! It happens to the best of us Ray.
I have an idea Ray, why don't you buy a server, set it up for us & away
we go??.

Cheers Wendy

"Ray B" wrote in message
...
I don't think it is - not listed, anyway.

By the way. Sorry about the triple post. Another reason to ditch
Motzarella.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!










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